May is a time of transition–the days warm up and get longer; the warm weather clothes come out of their closet hiding spots; the midway point of the year approaches; and students and educators say goodbye to the past school year and prepare for the summer and what the new academic year will bring.

This May brings quite a bit of transition for me, and I’ve found myself doing a lot of reflecting. This May (May Geminis, we see each other) I turn 23, the same age my mom was when she had me. I officially graduate from university, stepping into the scary, overwhelming, and unstable role of working professional. Sadly, this month also marks the end of my time as a fellow with That Art Party and a departure from this blog.

As a result, I have spent a lot of time reflecting on my time with TAP–what I came into this role with and what I’m taking with me when I leave; what I brought to this lovely community and what I, in return, have been gifted by you all; what I understand about creation and art; the calm and joy that comes with being allowed to just Be, unapologetically, in a third space and exist meaningfully in community with others.

The first event I attended as a fellow was Cafecito and Crafts; this month’s Cafecito at Café Con Cariño was also the last event I attended as a fellow. I think it’s only fitting that my final post focuses on this TAP staple.

At May’s Cafécito and Crafts, the realization that this was such a special place hit me all at once. There are so many wonderful people who make it happen– the Founder Naomi; the new facilitators Kira, Lydia, Kate; the lovely volunteers; the wonderfully creative vendors and their lovely art, jewelry, etc; the DJs who set the mood and keep the energy high; and you, of course, our beloved guests and playmates–and I feel immense joy at all of us enveloped and taken care of by the space and the Azúkar and Café Con Cariño team. Surrounded by a group of the coolest, most creative people in the Bay Area, by people who are so clearly in search of and invested in not only their own joy and creativity but who want to contribute to others’ as well. It is a space full of people who care about you beyond your output or job or role; who want to nurture that whimsical child within all of us; who want to share their light and love and bask in the joy of play with you.

That, my friends, is what art is really about. Coming into this role, I believed, already, in art’s inherent social, cultural, political, and disruptive power. But it cannot happen on its own. Academia will tell you that all the great artists were solitary beings–antisocial, distant, tortured, alone. You may believe that art necessitates disconnectedness. I disagree: art at its best is communal. Art’s transformative potential reaches its peak when it brings people together; when it invites us to slow down, think, breathe; when people’s eyes light up as they discuss their special interest with a former stranger over a latte and empanadas; when people discuss crocheting techniques; when someone shyly comes up to me at the craft booth to share a bracelet or flower or painting they’ve made; when it’s a room full of Black, Brown, queer laughter; when the body can be present and operate freely in a space that does not impose any limitations or expectations. These pockets of warmth are where art thrives, where art can truly call us to reimagine ourselves and envision the world we want to live in.

That knowledge is the most valuable thing I will take with me. Though my time with TAP has come to a close, everything I’ve learned here and the magical people I’ve met will stick with me. I will seek the kindness, the earnestness, the tenderness wherever I go. I will strive to put that out into the world wherever and whenever I go. I hope you do the same.

All beginnings must inevitably come to an end, and all ends invite new beginnings. My creative journey doesn’t end here. I am excited by what’s to come. I’ll catch you at a future Cafécito and Crafts.

Art and Community: What That Art Party has taught me about creation and connectedness

Can Crochet Cure your Childhood Trauma?